Researchers at MITs CSAIL devloped a method that uses standard 3d printer with advanced programmable viscoelastic materials like TangoBlack+ to make shock absorbing skin for robots.
Those 3d printed shielded robots use only 1/250 the amount of energy they transfers to the ground and also allow the robots to land nearly four times more precisely.
Source article with more information:
http://news.mit.edu/2016/3-d-printed-robots-shock-absorbing-skins-1003
Research paper:
http://groups.csail.mit.edu/drl/wiki/images/3/30/2016_MacCurdy-Printable_Programmable_Viscoelastic_Materials_for_Robots.pdf
Here are their jumping robotic cubes:
Those 3d printed shielded robots use only 1/250 the amount of energy they transfers to the ground and also allow the robots to land nearly four times more precisely.
Source article with more information:
http://news.mit.edu/2016/3-d-printed-robots-shock-absorbing-skins-1003
Research paper:
http://groups.csail.mit.edu/drl/wiki/images/3/30/2016_MacCurdy-Printable_Programmable_Viscoelastic_Materials_for_Robots.pdf
Here are their jumping robotic cubes:
